The week ahead

SAN ANTONIO — Manu Ginobili said before it began that the Spurs would treat their recent stretch featuring some of the league’s best teams as a test.

Granted, that test lost much of its function with the loss of Kawhi Leonard, depriving the Spurs of yet another key defender with Danny Green and Tiago Splitter already on the sideline. But even with a curve in the grading, the Spurs — having already lost to Portland, Oklahoma City and Miami within the past 10 days — are on the verge of completely flunking that test entering Tuesday’s game at Houston.

They’re now 1-10 against the top six teams on their schedule following Sunday’s setback in Miami. The Spurs hung around for about 2 1/2 quarters of that contest before the two-time defending champions blew them out over the remainder. That puts them in danger of losing consecutive games for the first time this season as they face a Rockets team that has already won the first two meetings, both in San Antonio.

at Houston (29-17) 7 p.m. Tuesday, Toyota Center

Nothing sums up the schitzo nature of the Rockets like their recent loss to Oklahoma City, in which they followed a 73-point first half with just 19 in the second. They followed with three straight victories, including an impressive 126-point outing against Portland, before dropping a home-and-home set to Memphis. The offensive exploits of James Harden are a good gauge for the Rockets’ success. They’re 20-7 when he scores 20 points or more, 5-8 when he doesn’t.

Chicago (22-21) 8:30 p.m. Wednesday, AT&T Center

Derrick Rose? Lost to another season-ending injury. Luol Deng? Traded. And still the Bulls battle on, winning 13 of their past 18 games to creep past .500 and into the upper division of the Eastern Conference. Granted, it’s come against a cupcake schedule. But with what the Bulls have had to deal with over the past two seasons, during which Rose has played a total of 10 games, they’ll take absolutely any success they can get.

Sacramento (15-28) 7:30 p.m. Saturday, AT&T Center

The impact of Rudy Gay’s acquisition seems to have worn off, with the Kings losing 6 of their past 8 to maintain their battle with Utah for last place in the West. The slide has been exacerbated by a sprained ankle to DeMarcus Cousins, who will miss a third straight game tonight at Utah. His absence deprives the Kings of perhaps the most productive big man in the game, averaging 22.6 points and 11.6 rebounds with a 26.4 Player Efficiency Rating.